Kimberly Renee Capps

Kimberly Renee Capps, 53, of Maumelle, passed away February 23, 2024. She was born November 10, 1970, in Little Rock Arkansas to Pat Kirspel (Capps) Claud and the late Gary D Capps. 

She attended Northeast High School in NLR and graduated in 1989. She set out for New York where she attended the ParaEducator Center at NYU and in 1991 completed a 2-year program receiving twelve credit hours from NYU. She worked in several daycare centers, attended workshops at Easter Seals and volunteered at Helping Hand. 

As a newborn, she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and received a shunt. Unsure of her fate, her neurosurgeon gave the best piece of advice Pat ever received, “You treat her as a handicap, she will be handicapped.” At six months, he called her a miracle. A year later she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. She was in and out of neuro and ortho clinics at AR Children’s Hospital. She made sure each of her fellow patients were okay, patting their hands and whispering encouragement. On one visit, a doctor holding her chart, then expanded to about six inches, said, “The child in this chart is not the child in front of me.” She attended Camp Aldersgate each year for disabled youth. One year they asked if she would be a counselor instead of camper because she was so good helping the timid/nervous campers relax and feel safe. 

Kimberly loved her music, especially the late 70s and 80s. At one parents’ teacher conference, Pat was told she was expecting too much from Kimberly. The answer to that was Kimberly could name every rock star, their bands, the bands they were with before, and their life stories. She can learn. She was your lifeline to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire when category was Music. She especially loved Duran Duran and saw them in person three times. In the car when Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ played, Pat would turn to Kimberly and say, “are you ready,” then crank it loud and they sang at top of their lungs. 

Kimberly began bowling with the Happy Keglers then Maumelle Youth (Veteran) and found an entire new family of friends who have remained remarkably close with leagues, local and state tournaments, and parties. She was a big sports fan too. She loved her Razorbacks (men and women), NBA especially Chicago Bulls, and the Kansas City Chiefs. You could tell how well her team was doing by the sounds coming out of her room. She worked out at 10 Fitness and when she walked inside, she owned the place. Everyone loved her there. 

On a visit to the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC she found her love for art, especially Edgar Degas’ ballet dancers. She carried that love home and is a member of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. 

All her life she struggled with headaches and frustration with her CP. She would say, “It is what it is.” In 2018, she had setback with high pressure built up on her brain. She lost a significant amount of sight and affected speech and balance. But again, nothing stopped her. She wore the mantle with grace and dignity, never complaining. 

Kimberly’s heart held everyone dear, especially her families -Kirspel, Capps, Claud and bowling. However, there was a special place for Liz and Dan Fuerstman of New York, her trainers Jeremy Ray and Jim Thompson, Mick Humphrey, and her bowling partners Michael Surrett, Greg Jenkins and Randy Christie. 

Kimberly was the sweetest, kindest, most caring person to ever walk the earth. Her strength and inner goodness flowed into everyone she met. That was her purpose, the reason the Lord put her here.

She is preceded in death by her father Gary Capps and stepdad Michael Claud. 

Kimberly leaves behind her mother Pat (Kirspel) Claud: Capps family sister Katie Capps and brother Detrick Capps; Claud family sisters Tricia Claud, Cristi Lam, and brother Shawn M Claud Sr. 

Visitation to be held at 4:00 pm on Sunday March 3, 2024, at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home followed by Rosary at 5:00 pm then shared memories and tribute. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Monday, March 4, 2024, at Holy Souls Catholic Church. 

In honor of Kimberly, invitation to wear her favorite color purple or animal print to her service. 

Memorials can be made to either Arkansas Childrens Hospital online https://Support.ARChildrens.org by check AR Childrens Foundation, PO Box 2222, Little Rock, AR 72203 OR Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts online https://my.arkmfa.org/donate/i/47 by check AMFA, PO Box 2137, Little Rock, AR 72203.